NORTON - For the first time in 10 years, town officials have appointed someone to oversee women prisoners at the Norton Police Station.

Known as matrons, the women are on call to help with the booking of females, Police Chief Brian Clark told selectmen. The matrons are trained in suicide prevention, CPR and first-responder techniques, he said.

Town Manager James Purcell recently appointed Katelyn Saleeba and Donna Jacobsen to the post. Selectmen have affirmed the move.

"Those two will fill a very serious void that we have," Clark said.

"For one reason or another," the department's matrons have all resigned over the past 10 years, he said.

Police have relied on matrons from neighboring towns, but that resource has dried up, Clark said. Norton Patrolman Danielle Laurenti has been a matron since February. Matrons are paid $17 an hour with no benefits, Clark said. They are called on a rotating basis, and are needed an average of 4 hours each week, Clark said.

"Some weeks, there may be 20. Some weeks, there may be none," he said.